A recent event included a balloon fundraising event. Helium balloons were tied to chairs, and those who contributed had their balloons popped during the program. Those who gave at the break had their balloons popped later in the day. The group raised three times more with the balloon-popping than at that same function the prior year.
Another balloon fundraising option - that can even work at Board of Directors meetings:
1. For a specific donation, give a helium balloon - each holding a folded paper inside. Two papers note prizes.
2. Ask those who buy balloons to tie them to their chairs.
3. Later in the program pop the balloons.
4. Additional options: May want to allow people to buy more than one balloon if all are not sold; or auction the chance to buy someone else's balloon at the end.